Shaft seal



June 2, 1942. A. K. BRENNN srm.

SHAFT SEAL Filed June 18, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented June Z, 1942 SHAFT SEAL Applioaion June 18, 1940, Seiial N0. 341,204

5 Claims.

This invention relates to shaft seals especially suited, although not restricted, for use in cannectiou with vacuum 01 pressure type mixers to c1ose the clearance around an agitator shaft where 11', extend5 through the end Walls cf the mixing chamber into a vacuum or pressure compartrnent located contiguous thereo. 'Ihis application is a continuationinpart of our application Sex, N0. 26'75G4= which issued as Patent N0. 2,209559 an Ju1y 30, 1940.

More particularly the invention aim5 to pro- Vide a shaft sea1 of the above character which is adapted to be wedged illto engagement Wi'bh the agitator shaft and including a pivoted lever, conveniently accessible from the top cf the mixe! for manually adjusting the pressure on he sea1- ing member to compensate for wear.

Another object of the invention is t0 provide a shaft sea1of the above character in which the packing ring Which frictianally engages the agitator shaft may be quickly and easily removed for cleaning 01 for replacement when it becames wem.

Still another object cf the invention is to provide a shaft seal of the above character which w.

includes a reservoir for lub1icant surrounding the agitator shaft for lubricating the packin-g fing, With means for replenishing the supp1y of lubricant in the reservoir without disassembling the seal.

Other objeots and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, reference being had to the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical crosS-sectional view through an end 0f a vacuum typemixer showing a sealing member surrounding an agitator shaft;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the sea1ing member viewed in the direction indicated by th e 1ine 2-2 oi Fig. 1;

Flgure 3 is a fragmsntary detai1 view, in crosssection, cf the sealing member;

Figure 4 is a vertica1 c1*oss-sectional view, (101- responciing 110 the view of Fig. 1, of a slightly modified form cf sealing member;

Figure 5 i.s an elevational view of he sealing member, viewed. in the direction indicated by t he line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail view, in crosssection, cf tne sealing member of Fig. 4..

In Fig. 1 is illustrated in cross-section one end of a mixing .mach'me M of Lhe vacuum type including a mixing chamoer 'l, clo-sed ab one end by an end Wall !a and a vacuum compartment 2 provided by a 'h0110w casting .3 contiguous to the end Wall of the mixing chamber. One of tne agitators mounted for rotation within the mixing 4 Bolted to the end wa1l lu. inside the miXing' chamber and surrounding the shaft 5 is an annu1ar closure plate i. This closure platze is provided= Wit-h a beveled inner circumference in. (bes sh0Wn in Fig. 3), disp0sed awiljacent the shaft and expanding toward the vacuum compartment, anc1 With a circular groove 1b formed within its rear face. The beveled inner circumference 7a of the closure p1ate forms with the shaft 5 a convergent or V-shaped recess surrounding the shaft A sealing member is adapted to cooperate With this closure plate to seal 'bhe clearance between the inner cimumference of the clcsure plate and the outer circumference of t.' z1e shaft. Tina sealing member com prises a sealing 1ing 3 located Within the vacuum compartment and surrounding the shaft 5. Affixed 110 Ehe face of the sealing ring disposed toward the Closure p1ae i, is a transversely split collar Q, the two sections cf Which are detachab1y connected t0 the sealing ring by means of a series of headed pins 9a on the collar extendin g into companion keyhole slots 9b (Fig. 2)

formed in the sealing fing.

T0 the collar 9 is'fastened a transversely split packing riz1 5G by sc1ews ia, this packi-ng ring preferably being made of a flexible composition. The 0uter face of the packing fing i.s channeled. to produce an elongated 1ip Hb which bears againsb the beveled edge 'ia 01" the closure plate I.

For yieldingly urging this sealing member into closing r'e1ati0nship with reference to the cleararme surrounding the shaft 5, a lever II is provided. This lever is pivoted intermediate its ends in a bracket HE fastened co the outer face of the end Wall Ea cf the mixing receptacle, The lower end of the lever is forked so as 110 bridge shaft 5 and each brauch of the fork 15 slotted. so as to fit over a pin 52a provided. by each of a, pair of ears E3 011 the sealing ring 8.

'I'he upper end cf the 1ever is urged by a coi1 spring Hi, connected ao the Wall 3a cf the vacuum compartmenc', in a direction such a5 to rock the leverv about its pivetal vsmt:port in bra cket I2 and force the sealing fing into contact With the 010- sure plate l, anc1 consequently to .cause the beveled .edge of the sealing plate to deflect th e 1ip I(Ib of the packing ring into the convergent recess surroundin the shaft and into tight engagement With the shaft 5. The upper end of the lever II is twisted a1; right angles and slotted so as to straddle an eyebolt I5, which eyebolt, in turn, is threaded. into a nut I6 engaging a. face 015 the lever.

By virtue of the above construction, the pressure exerted by the sealing member against the closure platze I may be varied by simply rotating the nut I5 to screw the eyebolt I5 inwardly or outwardly of the nut, thereby changing the tension of the coil spring I4. When it is desired to remove the packing ring for cleaning or renewal, it is on1y necessary to detach the lever I I from the eyebo1t I5 anal then lift the lever from the bracket I2 ancl out of the va.cuum compartment. The sealing ring 8 is then slid a1ong the shaft 5, anal by rota.ting the collar 9 and packing ring I until the heads of pins 9a register with the enlarged portions of the keyho1e slots 9b, the two half-sections of the combi'ned collar and packing ring may be separated to permit their removal from around the shaft 5. The packing ring may then be detached from the CO1- lar (by withdrawing the screWs Ia) for cleaning; 01 renewa1 of the packing fing.

The parts are assembled by simply reversing the order -of the above steps. The opening in the Wall at opposite ends of the mixer (not shovvn) through Which the agitator shaft passes from the mixing chamber into the vacuum compartment is provided with sealing means correspond- Ing to those just described.

A cover (not shown) is designed to close the top of the mixing chamber I and vacuum compartments 2, this cover rendering the mixing chamber anal vacuum compartment air-tight ancl providing a. restricted communicating passage therebetween. As more ful1y described in our copending application previously referred to, during operation of the mixer gases are continuously exhausted from the mixing cha.mber I and also, through the communicating passages, from the vacuum compartments 2 so as to maintain a sub-atmospheric pressure in chamber anal compartments.

The seals provided by the member5 8 are effective 130 prevent foreign matter from entering the mixing chamber and conta.minating the product undergoing mixing, a.nd such small leakage of air as may occur past these seals from the vacuum compartments into the mixing chamber aids in preventing leakage of the product out of the mixing chamber.

In Figs. 4, 5 an-d s 15 illustrated a slightly modified form of sha.ft seal. In these fi%ures the same reference numerals are employed to designate parts corresponding to those of the seal of Figs. l, 2 and 3. The seal comprises an annu1ar 010- sure p1ate I surrounding the agita.tor shaft 5 and secured to the inner face of the mixing chamher, this closure plate having a beveled inner circumference 'I'a and a. circular groove 'Ib formec1 upon its rear face. Cooperating With this closure pla.te is a sealing member located inside the vacuurn compa.rtment 2 a.nd compri5ing a. sealing ring 8 surrounding the agitator shaft 5, a. transversely split collar 9 having its two half-wund sections detachably connected to the sealing ring, and a transversely split packing ring I secured to the split colla.r.

For urging the sea.ling member into engagement Wlth the closure platte, a lever II is pivotally supported upon a. bracket I2 fastened t0 the end wall I a of the mixing chamber, the 10W- er end of this lever being forked so as to straddle the agitator shaft and each fork being slotted a.t its end so as to fit over a pin I2a provided by each of a pair of ears I3 on the sea1ing ring 8.

So much of the shaft seal a s has thus fa.r been described corresponds in 2.11 substantial respects t0 the shaft seal of Figs. 1, 2, and 3, previously set forth in greater detail. The principal features of this modified form of sea1 Will now be described.

Within the vacuum compartment 2 partially surrounding the sea.ling fing 8 is a, pair of arena.te sha.ped plates 25. These plates are attached to the wa.l1 I a by bolts 26 and provide a pair of slotted 1ugs 27 projecting into the space between the forked ends of lever II and the ears I3 011 the sealing ring S. The slots in the lugs 21 sdab1y receive the pins I2a by which the lever 1's operatively connected to the sealing ring so that the resistance to rotatiou of the sealing ring is assumed by the lugs 21 instead of by the lever.

The upper end of the lever II which extends to a positiom adjacent the top of the vacuum compartment is slotted so as to stra.ddle the normally horizontal, screw-threaded end 0f an eyeholt 28. The eye of the eyebolt is pivoted to a stud 29 screwed to the Wall 3a of casting 3, the arrangement being such that the eyebolt is free to SW1I1g in a vertical plane. A manually adjustable nut 30 is threaded upon the end of the eyebolt which projects beyond the lever, this nut abutting the lever so tha.t by turning the nut in one direction the lever is rocked upon the bracket I2 to force the sealing member more tightly into engagement with the (3105111e plate I and thereby to urge the lip 1a of the packing ring more firmly into contact With the circumference of the agitator shaft 5. In order to provide for the more accurate adjustment of the sealing member, the bracket is provided With a pair of Set screws 3I which engage a cross pin 32 extending between the forks of the lever anal resting upon the bracket I2. By means of the set screws 3I the position of the cross pin, Which provides the pivotal support for the lever, may be adjusted a. limited distance in a horizontal direction to take up p1ay.

In order to lubricate the packing ring I0 and to close the minute space between the packing ring and sha.ft, the following Ineans are provided: The sp1it colla.r 5 is of enlarged. diameter throughout a portion of its inner circumference so as to provide a. storage space 33 (Fig. 6) surrounding the shaft 5, this space being substantia11y closed at one end by the sealing ring 8. A passage 34 through the sealing fing ]eads from the storage space 33 t0 the exterior of the sea.ling ring and communicates with a coupling 35. A flexible tube 36 extends from the coupling to a fitting 31 passing through the wa1] 3a of the vacuum compartment and affordin meang upon the exterior of the apparatus to receive a grease gun. By maintaining the storage space 33 filled With grease, the resulting ring of lubricant lubricates the packing ring I and the supply of grease may be replenished without interrupting the operation of the mixer.

The modified form of shaft sea1 just desoribed Operates in substantially the samt: manner as the shaft sea1 described in connection with Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Both forms of seals are especially suitable for use in connection with vacuum type mixers to prevent leakage of air, gas, dirt or liquids between the vacuum compartments and tzhe mixing chamber, altzhqugh manifestly tzheir utzilitzy is not limitzed. tzo any special type of apparatus.

While in the example described above tzhe shaftz seal is applied tzo a vacuum type mixer, itz is tzo be understzood tzhatz itls utzility is notz restzrlcted to such a type of mixer. F01 example, lt will serve tzo equally good advantzage in connectzton witzh a mixer of he pressure tzype, tzhatz is a mixer in which air under pressure is intzroduced intzo tzhe mixing chamber. In eitzher eventz tzhe seal serves tzo effectively close tzhe clearance around an agitzator shaftz.

Itz will be unclerstzood. tzhatz tzhe inventzion is notz limitzed tzo tzhe exaetz details of constructzion and operatzin herein shown and descrlbed, for various modificatzions within tzhe scope of the claims may occur to persons skilled in tzhe artz.

We claim:

1. A shaftz seal for mixers of the type including a mixing chamber and a rotatzable agitator shaft extending tzhrough an oversize opening in an end wall of tzhe mixing chamber, said shaft seal comprising a closure platze secured tzo said end wall atz said opening and encircling the shaftz, said closure platze having a tapered inner circumference defining witzh the agitzatbr shaftz a convergent recess surrounding tzhe shaftz, a pivotzallymountzed lever locatzed upon tzhe oppositze s'1de of tzhe end wall from the closure plate, a flexible packing member'secured tzo said lever, said paek im; member having an elongatzed annular lip projectzing from one side tzhereof ancl engaging tzhe tapered inner circumference of tzhe closure platze, and means for movlng said lever abbu itzs pivotzal mountzing in a direction such as to urge the lip intzo tzhe convergentz recess and cleilectz saicl lip intzo frictzional engagement with the shaftz.

2. A shaftz seal for mixers of the type includ- A ing a mixing chamber and a rotatzable agitzatzor shaftz extending through an oversize opening in an end wall of tzhe mixing chamber, said shaft seal comprising a closure platze secured to said. end wall atz said opening ancl encircling tzhe shaftz, said. closure platze having a tapered inner circumference defining witzh tzhe agitatzor shaftz a convergentz reeess surrounding the shaft, a pivotzally-mountzed lever locatecl upon tzhe oppositze side of tzhe end wall from tzhe closure platze, a flexible packing member secured tzo said lever, said packing member having an elongated. annular lip projectzing from one side tzhereof and engaging tzhe tapered inner circumference of tzhe closure platze, tzhe engagementz betzween said packing member and closure platze being solely along tzhe tzapered. inner circumference of tzhe closure platze, and means for moving said lever aboutz itzs pivoted mountzing in a directzion such as co urge tzhe lip intzo tzhe convergentz recess and defiectz said lip intzo frictzional engagementz with the shaftz.

3. A shaftz seal for mixers of tzhe type including a mixing chamber and. a rotatzable agitatzor shaftz extending tzhrough an oversize opening in an end. wall cf tzhe mixing chamber, said. shaftz seal comprising a closure platze secured to said. end. wall atz said opening and. encircling tzhe shaftz, said closure platze having a tzaperecl inner cireumference defining witzh tzhe agitzator shaftz a convergentz recess surrouncling tzhe shaftz, a pivotzally-mountzed. lever locatzed upon alte opposite side of tzhe end wall from tzhe closure platze, a flexible packing member secured tzo said lever, said pao lging member having an elongaoed annular lip projectzing from one stete tzhereof and engaging tzhe tzapered inner circumference of tzhe closure platze, said lever having a forked end. bridging tzhe agitzatzor shaftz, a sealing ring encircling tzhe shaftz and detzachably connectzed tzo tzhe forked end of the lever, a splitz collar detzachably connectzed tzo said sealing ring, means securing said packing member tzo saicl collar, and means for moving said lever aboutz itzs pivotal mountzing in a directzion such as tzo urge tzhe lip into tzhe 0011- vergentz recess and deflectz said 1ip intzo frictional engagementz with tzhe shaftz.

4. A shaft seal for mixers of tzhe tzype including a mixing chamber anal a rotatzable agitzatzor shaftz extencling tzhrough an oversize opening in an end wall of tzhe mixing chamber, said shaftz seal comprising a closure platze secured tzo said end wall atz said opening and encircling tzhe shaftz, said closure platze having a tapered inner circumference defining with tzhe agitzator shaftz a convergentz recess surrounding tzhe shaftz, a pivotzallymountzed lever locatzed upon tzhe oppositze side 0f tzhe end wall from tzhe 'closure platze, said lever having a forked lower end bridging saidagitzatzor shaftz, a sealing ring encircling tzhe agitator shaft, a pin-and-slotz connectzion betzween said sealing ring and forked. end of said lever, a flexible packing member secured tzo said sealing ring, saicl packing member having an elongatzed annular lip projectlng from one side tzhereof and engaging tzhe tzapered. inner circumference of tzhe closure platze, a bracketz pivotzally supporting sald. lever, a pin-and-slotz eonnectzion betzween said bracketz and. lever, tzhe arrangementz being such tzhatz by bodily moving tzhe lever in one directzion removes tzhe pins from tzhe slots in said bracketz anal sealing ring, and means for moving said lever aboutz itzs pivotzal mounting in a directzion such as tzo urge.

tzhe lip intzo tzhe convergentz recess ahd deflectz said lip intzo frictzional engagementz witzh tzhe shaftz.

5. A shaftz seal for mixers of tzhe tzype including a mixing chamber and a rotzatzable agitzatzor shaft extending tzhrough an oversize opening in an end wall of tzhe mixing chamber, said shaftz seal comprising a closure platze secured tzo said end wall atz said opening and encircling tzhe shaftz, said. closure platze having a tzapered. inner circumference defining witzh tzhe agitator shaftz a sonvergentz recess surrounding tzhe shaftz, a pivotzallymounted lever locatzed upon tzhe oppositze stete of tzhe end. wall from tzhe closure platze, a fiexible packing member secured tzo said lever, said packing member having an elongatzed annular lip projectzing from one side tzhereof and engaging tzhe taperecl inner cireumference of tzhe closure platze, a sealing ring encircling tzhe shaftz ancl detzachably connectzed tzo tzhe lever, a collar atztzaehably connected tzo said sealing ring, means securing said. packing member tzo said. collar, tzhe inner diametzer of said. collar being larger tzhan tzhe inner diametzers of said packing member and sealing ring so as tzo provide an annular lubricantz stzorage space surrounding tzhe agitzatzor shaftz, a flexible tzube having one end communicating witzh said lub-ricantz storage space and provided. with means atz itzs otzher end for connection witzh a grease gun, and. means for moving saicl levef aboutz itzs pivotzal mountzing in a directzion such as tzo urge tzhe lip into the convergentz recess and. deflectz said. lip intzo frictzional engagementz witzh tzhe shaftz.

AMBROSE K. BRENNAN. JAMES M. JANS. 

